# Accident 20140730012879A: Bell 206B, Spring, TX, July 30, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 30, 2014, 10:50 local time
- Place: Spring, TX
- Airport: David Wayne Hooks
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.0619° N, 95.5528° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0619&lon=-95.5528&mi=10
- Aircraft: N866H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N866H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 206B (registry code 1181511, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 317HP (registry code 03011, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-317hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250 SER 317HP
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 50 total, 50 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN14LA465](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA465) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140730012879A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE HELICOPTER WAS LEASED FROM A PART 135 OPERATOR TO THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT FOR AIR SUPPORT OPERATIONS. SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL WERE OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCREW (A PILOT IN COMMAND AND A TACTICAL FLIGHT OFFICER) ENTERED THE AIRCRAFT AND BEGAN STARTUP PROCEDURES BEFORE THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE TIE DOWNS HAD BEEN REMOVED.

AFTER THE ENGINE STARTED THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES BEGAN TO ROTATE AND ALLOWED THE TIE DOWN STRAP AND METAL APPARATUS TO DAMAGE THE MAIN ROTOR, THE TAIL ROTOR AND STRUCTURES AT THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN14LA465](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA465), Jul 30, 2014: Bell 206B (N866H), Spring, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's distraction by a cell phone call, which led to his failure to perform an exterior check of the helicopter and resulted in a tie-down strap remaining attached to the main rotor during the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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